Floor-scrubbing machine



W. ZEHNDER.

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHlNE. APPLICATION man JAN. 9, 1917.

1,408,331. Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

W. ZEHNDER.

FLOOR SGRUBBING MACHINE. APPLICATION H'LED mu. 9. 1917.

1,408,331. Patented Feb.28, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. ZEHNDER.

FLOOR SCRUBBING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 9| 19 i7 Patented Feb.28, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

'State of Pennsylvania, I p and useful Improvements in Floor-Scrub WILLIAM se men b H T' U' GH rE m WeNIe rLo on-scnnnnme giorrrnn.

weasel.

Application filed .TanuaryB, 1917.

To all rv/10m it may concern:

c it known that I, citizen: of the United Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and have invented new TILLIAM ZEHNDER, a

bing Machines, of which'ithefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to floor scrubbing machines, the'object inview being to produce a sim )le manuall controlledscrubbing I v y a C machine of the class referred to, whereby floor surfaces maybe effectively scouredfland scrubbed, the only thing required otthe operator being to push or trundle the machine back and forth over the floor, there being means for delivering suds water in the desired qi'iantity' to the scrubbing members or the machine.

lVith the above and other obje'e'ts'in view,

the invention consists in the novel construe tion,'combin'ation and'arrangen'ient of parts,-'

as herein desc 'ibed, illustrated and claimed; In the accompanyingdrawings: V Figure l is a side elevation of a floor scrubbing machine embodying the present invention, the rear portion of the tank and handle being omitted.

' Figure 2 is a side elevation of the remaining part of the handle and tank not shown in Figure 1. 7

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly' 'in cross section lookingtoward the funnel end of the tank.

Figure 1 is a plan View of tlie'main body of the machine showing a fragmented? the handle. y I

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the traction wheel showing also one of the main. brush'driving gears.

Figure 6 is a front elevation partlyin section of the distributing pipe, 'theshields and other parts intimately associated there-- with. I

Figure Z is an edge view of one of the combined clamps and braces.

The scrubbing machine contemplated in this invention comprises, in the preferred embodiment thereof, an oblong open center frame designated generally at 1. This frame is connectedfby an adjustable pivot means to a handle'coupling 3 which is fastened by means of one or more bolts a or the equivalent thereof to a handle 5 of suitable length and preferably of wood, the re nainder of the machine being constructed Specification of Letters Patent,

' mainly of metal.-

States, residing at Serial N5. 141,443.

The handle 5 has tastened to the rear end thereof'a clamp 6 in the form of a strapwhiohis fastened -fixedly to the handle bymeans of bolts-7'01 their equivalent, the curved portion Softhe clamp 6 passing around and tightly embracingand clamping in position a cross head or'handle bar-'9 enabling the operatorto use both hands in the operation of the scrubbing machine.

Superimposed upon and supported manually by the handle reservoir 10. The tank is ar'lapted to con tain suds water or the like for'scouringpurposes." This tankat the rear end thereof is formed with an inwardly dished portion 11 resembling a four sided funnel, all'sides of which slope to a centralopening 12' leading directly into-the tank andnormally' closed by means of a) plug or' stopp'erlS which is inserted in the opening 122 after thetank 10 has been filled, Ang'l Pat n ed F b- 28 1922 5 is a'liquid tank ore -1rons or clips:

14: connect the tank rigidly to the handle 5] asshown in Figure 7 i At its discharge end the tank 10 is provided with a reduced neck or nipple 15 which passes through an opening 16 in a tank supporting bracket 17' which is se-- cured by -fasteners 18 to the adjacent extremity of the'handle 5, the bracketl?- resting upon the coupling member 3 above referred to. l 4,

Connectedwith the nipple 15 is the body IQ of a regulating valve or stop cock 20 by mcansof which the flow of liquid from the tank 10 to' the scrubbing brushes "may be regulated. or entirely out off. nipple 21. extends from the valve casing 19 and over the last named nipple is fitted one extremity of a flexible pipe or hose22 The opposite end of the hose 22 fits over a nipple or tubular extension 23 projecting from a liquid distributing pipe 24- which is' ar ranged in a substantially horizontal position over thescrubbing brushes to be hereinafter described. Supported by the distributing pipe 24 is an inverted V-shaped shield preferably of sheet'metal," the same comprising a' rea'rwardly extending and down-, wardly sloping portion 25, and a forwardly extending and downwardly sloping portion 26,'both portions of the shield 'havingtheir free ends reinforced as'shown 'at'27f'by bending the marginal edge of each' portion 25 and26"around a suitable len'gth of wire or rod. The pipe 24 is supported in position by means of two or more clamps 28 i has fast thereon brush to the shaft each composed of a metal strap bent to encircle the pipe 24 and having the end portions thereof bolted or fastened together as shown at 29 and extended" downwardly to form braces 30 which are connected by fasteners31 to the forward end of the frame 1. As shown in Figure 6, the pipe 24 is formed in the bottom thereof with a large numbervof perforations 32 thereby causing the liquid contained in the pipe to be distributed upon the floor surface at all points in the length of said pipe and the full width of the machinei The frame 1 is provided with bearings for a transversely extending axle 33 which is rotatably mounted in said bearings and which between the opposite side bars of the frame 1, a traction and brushdriving wheel embodying a hub 33, a rim 34 and a body or web 35. This traction wheel is fastened to the shaft 33 by set screws 36. At one end, the shaft 33 is reduced and squared as shown at'37 to fit the correspondingly shaped central opening of a brush driving spur gear 38 held in place on the squared portion of the shaft. 32 by a screw 39 or its equivalent. The peripheral face of the traction wheel is formed with a p1u-' rality of annular seats 40 in which are placed resilient tires 41 preferably of rubher to obtain the necessary tractional, grip on the floor surface for thepurpose of actuating the brushes which are shown as mounted on a. rotary shaft 42 parallel to the shaft 33 but arranged adjacent to the front end of the frame 1.

Two brushes'43 are empl being arranged at opposite sides of the frame 1 and both having a fixed relation to the shaft 42 so as to'rotate therewith. Each brush comprises a substantially cylindrical bodyl44 which is fastened to the shaft 42 by means of a key 45 shown in the form of a screw threaded into a bore formed partially in the body 44 of the brush and partially in the shaft 42. This locks'the and prevents relative movement in any direction between the brush and the shaft by whichit is carried. Fastened to the inner end of one or both brushes is a spur gear 46, the fastening means'being indicated at 4'? and shown as consisting of any desired number of screws, The gear 46 is driven by the respective gear 38. The gears 38 and 46 may either be du plicated at opposite sides of the frame 1 or one set of gears may be omitted, it only being requisite to use one set of gears 38 and 46. This feature will be left to the option of the manufacturer.

The body 44 of each brush is formed with 1 inwardly extending radial grooves 48 each yed, the same may be of paper, cardboard or any suitable material the same being also glued to the inner end portions of the bristles. After a brush section is inserted in its respective groove, a wedge-shaped retaining strip 51 is insertedin the body 44 so as to bear against the head of the brush section, said strip 51 being fastened in place by means of a key 52 which is threaded into abore formed partially in the wedge-shaped strip 51 and partly in the body 44. Thus the brush sections may be readily removed and replaced or renewed as they wear away. I

The construction of the machine herein above described and illustrated in the ac- V companying drawings is such that each and every part of the machine maybe easily removed with the aid of a screw driver and a small wrench. The brushes are subjected to the most rapid wear but in view of the construction described and shown they may be easily removed and replaced or renewed.

floor is thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned,

the splashing of the water upon the person operating the machine or upon the walls of the room being prevented by means of the front and rear portions of the shield hereinabove described.

In a floor scrubbing machine, a main frame, wheels journaled on the frame, brushes mounted on the frame for rotation, means for rotating said brushes, a liquid tank supported above the frame, a distributing pipe arranged above and in parallelism with said brushes, a hose connecting the distributing pipe with said tank, metal lic strips surrounding said distributing pipe and depending therefrom. said strips being secured to one end of the frame and supporting the distributing pipe in proper relation to said brushes, and a substantially V-shaped shield supported by said distributing pipe over said brushes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM ZEHNDER. 

